According to Phoenixville Area School District Superintendent Dr. Alan Fegley, the student put his backpack on the floor of the classroom he was in and stated there was a bomb in the backpack.

"He was overheard making this statement by the classroom teacher," Fegley said in a written statement. "Emergency procedures were initiated, the police were notified and all high school students, faculty, and staff were safely evacuated from the building to Washington Field."

Video from Chopper 6 HD showed hundreds of students, teachers and staff sitting in the bleachers facing the school's football field.